Agility, Parallel Systems partner on autonomous rail freight in GCC. Mon, 28 Sep, 2026 By Arya S Nair, Desk Reporter * Follow author on Agility's corporate venture arm has signed an agreement with US-based autonomous freight rail company Parallel Systems, to develop, commercialize, finance and deploy autonomous rail freight systems across the GCC, wider EMEA region and other international markets. The strategic collaboration will combine Parallel's autonomous rail technology with Agility's market access, logistics expertise, infrastructure development capabilities and relationships with regional stakeholders. The partnership will also draw on Agility's reach across the freight and supply chain ecosystem. Agility is a global owner, operator and long-term investor in logistics, transportation and strategic infrastructure. Autonomous rail technology targets shorter freight routes. Parallel's platform uses autonomous, battery-electric vehicles that operate on existing rail infrastructure. The vehicles can self-sort and assemble into platoons and integrate with rail control and business systems. The system is designed to provide more flexible and frequent rail service on shorter, lower-density routes, including port shuttles, connections to inland logistics facilities and city-to-city freight movements. You may like. Parallel's vehicles can haul intermodal containers for up to 500 miles on a single charge. The companies said the technology could help reduce port congestion, container dwell times and short-haul truck movements. Partnership to assess regional deployment. Under the collaboration, Parallel and Agility will develop a roadmap covering regional adaptation, testing, regulatory approvals and other protocols required to make Parallel's autonomous rail system fully operational in the region. The companies will initially focus on identifying priority freight corridors and commercially viable opportunities where autonomous rail can strengthen regional freight connectivity. The collaboration is expected to assess how Parallel's battery-electric autonomous rail technology can be adapted to regional infrastructure and freight requirements as GCC railway networks and port projects continue to develop. "With major rail and port projects advancing across the GCC, now is the time to build technology into the region's infrastructure and resilience plans. Digital systems and physical infrastructure must work together to create more connected, flexible and resilient supply chains. Autonomous rail could help unlock additional port capacity and improve container flows, from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea gateways to major ports on the Gulf and Arabian Sea. As the GCC's railway networks take shape, the region has an opportunity to future-proof these investments by incorporating autonomous, battery-electric technology with safety designed in from the outset." Arun Gupta, Parallel Systems' Executive Chairman, said that, "Parallel enables railroads to handle shorter, lower-density routes competitively, allowing shippers to use rail for short-haul freight that previously required trucks, making rail more competitive with trucking while reducing road congestion. Major railroads in the U.S. have begun adopting Parallel's platform and we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring our revolutionary transportation system to the GCC and EMEA." Agility targets GCC rail and port connectivity. Tarek Sultan, Agility Chairman, said the development of major rail and port infrastructure across the GCC creates an opportunity to incorporate autonomous technology into regional transportation networks.

U.S.-based autonomous freight rail company Parallel Systems and Agility enter into agreement to bring platform to the GCC and EMEA. September 28, 2026 Parties will assess flexible rail freight corridors, port shuttles, logistics networks and public-private partnership opportunities across the region Abu Dhabi, 28 September 2026: Parallel Systems, ("Parallel") the world's leading autonomous freight rail company and Agility's corporate venture arm today announced a strategic collaboration to develop, commercialise, finance and deploy autonomous rail freight systems across the GCC, wider EMEA region and other international markets. Agility is a global owner, operator and long-term investor in logistics, transportation and strategic infrastructure. The collaboration will combine Parallel's autonomous rail platform with Agility's market access, logistics expertise, infrastructure development capabilities, relationships with regional stakeholders and reach across the freight and supply chain ecosystem. Parallel's system uses autonomous, battery-electric vehicles that operate on existing rail infrastructure, self-sort and assemble into platoons, and integrate with rail control and business systems. The platform is designed to provide more flexible and frequent service on shorter, lower-density routes, including port shuttles, connections to inland logistics facilities, and city-to-city moves. Parallel's vehicles can haul intermodal containers for up to 500 miles on a single charge, potentially reducing port congestion, container dwell times and short-haul truck movements. "Parallel enables railroads to handle shorter, lower-density routes competitively, allowing shippers to use rail for short-haul freight that previously required trucks, making rail more competitive with trucking while reducing road congestion," said Arun Gupta, Parallel Systems' Executive Chairman. "Major railroads in the U.S. have begun adopting Parallel's platform and we believe there is a significant opportunity to bring our revolutionary transportation system to the GCC and EMEA," added Mr. Gupta. "With major rail and port projects advancing across the GCC, now is the time to build technology into the region's infrastructure and resilience plans," said Tarek Sultan, Agility Chairman. "Digital systems and physical infrastructure must work together to create more connected, flexible and resilient supply chains. Autonomous rail could help unlock additional port capacity and improve container flows, from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea gateways to major ports on the Gulf and Arabian Sea. As the GCC's railway networks take shape, the region has an opportunity to future-proof these investments by incorporating autonomous, battery-electric technology with safety designed in from the outset." Under the collaboration, the parties will embark on a roadmap that addresses regional adaptation, testing, addressing regulatory approvals and all other protocols to enable Parallel to become fully operational in the region. The parties will initially focus on identifying priority corridors and commercially viable opportunities where autonomous rail can strengthen regional freight connectivity. About Parallel Founded in 2020, Parallel Systems is the world's first autonomous battery-electric rail system. The company is a U.S. based manufacturer and transportation technology innovator whose mission is to deliver a safer, more efficient and sustainable alternative to short-haul trucking. The company provides significant benefits, including: 1) enables railroads to grow by increasing their role in shorter-route transportation; 2) makes America's busiest roadways safer for motorists by decongesting; 3) reduces the costs of shipping; 4) creates new industry jobs; 5) reduces pollution. About Agility Agility is a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses. Its portfolio of diversified international assets includes the world's largest aviation services company (Menzies Aviation); a global fuel logistics business (Tristar); a leading logistics parks developer and operator across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (Agility Logistics Parks); and other businesses in digital logistics, e-commerce logistics, remote-site services, and public-sector logistics. Agility holds minority stakes in DSV, the world's largest freight forwarder; Reem Mall, a mega-mall in Abu Dhabi; commercial real estate and supply chain companies in the GCC; and emerging technology companies in e-commerce enablement, energy transition, digital supply chain, and more. Agility has a global footprint across six continents and 80+ countries, with a workforce of approximately 70,000 employees. It is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).

Interview: Parallel Systems CEO Matt Soule on building 'the world's first autonomous freight rail system' Discover more Humanoid robot research Robotic process automation Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Autonomous trucks have dominated discussion around the future of freight transportation for much of the past decade, attracting billions of dollars in investment and extensive media attention. Yet another mode of transport - freight rail - is quietly undergoing its own transformation. Matt Soule, founder and CEO of Parallel Systems, believes autonomous rail could become one of the most significant developments in logistics. A former SpaceX engineer who spent 13 years helping develop advanced aerospace systems, Soule founded the Los Angeles-based company with the goal of reimagining rail freight using autonomous, battery-electric technology. Rather than relying on traditional diesel locomotives pulling long trains, Parallel Systems has developed self-propelled autonomous rail vehicles that can operate in smaller platoons. The company says the approach offers greater flexibility, lower operating costs, and zero-emission transportation while making rail a viable option for shorter freight routes that have historically been dominated by trucks. Discover more Manufacturing efficiency tools Automation software development The company has raised more than $100 million and is currently conducting commercial testing with Genesee & Wyoming Railroad in Georgia under the oversight of the Federal Railroad Administration. The program represents one of the most advanced real-world demonstrations of autonomous rail technology currently under way in the United States. In this interview with Robotics & Automation News, Soule discusses why freight rail is reaching a technological turning point, how autonomous railcars differ from conventional trains, and why he believes rail could capture more than $100 billion worth of freight currently moved by trucks. He also outlines his vision of a future logistics network where autonomous trucks, robotic warehouses, AI-driven routing systems, and autonomous rail vehicles operate as a coordinated ecosystem. According to Soule, these technologies will form a highly synchronized transportation network in which goods move continuously through supply chains with minimal friction. Perhaps most notably, he argues that autonomous freight systems are much closer to mainstream deployment than many observers realize, pointing to Parallel's growing order backlog and ongoing commercial operations as evidence that the industry is already moving beyond the experimental stage. Interview with Matt Soule Robotics & Automation News: Autonomous trucking has received enormous attention over the past few years, but autonomous freight rail has remained relatively under the radar. Why do you think rail automation has been overlooked despite the scale of the opportunity? Matt Soule: In fact autonomous rail has been receiving considerable attention and interest, both from the rail industry, policymakers and media. The rail industry is now at a crossroads where industry growth is needed that can't be satisfied with existing technology. To service more customers freight rail companies must improve service frequency and flexibility. There is also increased demand by ports for rail to play a larger role in ground transportation, and AV and EV technology has been scaled and matured by the automotive sector that Parallel is leveraging. R&AN: Parallel Systems describes itself as developing the world's first autonomous battery-electric freight rail system. In simple terms, how does your approach differ from a conventional freight train? MS: Parallel Systems differs from conventional freight rail by using autonomous, battery-electric, and self-propelled railcars that move freight in smaller, flexible "platoons" rather than relying on large, diesel-powered locomotives to pull long trains. Vehicle movements and platoons are orchestrated by centralized software. This technology eliminates the need for manual coupling, enables faster, cleaner, and more on-demand transportation, and features superior braking and sensing. R&AN: One of the most interesting aspects of your platform is the idea of smaller, self-powered autonomous rail vehicles rather than one large locomotive. Why is that model better suited to modern logistics and supply chain demands? MS: The Parallel Systems model is better suited to modern logistics because it replaces rigid, massive train schedules and infrequent service with flexible, on-demand, and zero-emission freight "packets". Modern supply chains - driven by e-commerce - demand speed, predictability, and sustainability. Traditional rail excels at moving bulk goods over thousands of miles, but it is too slow and inflexible for today's fast-moving retail and manufacturing networks. R&AN: You've argued that rail could potentially compete with trucking on shorter freight routes for the first time. How significant could that shift be for ports, warehouses, and regional distribution networks across the US? MS: Robotics & Automation News see this as an opportunity to shift over $100 billion from the $800 billion trucking industry to the $80 billion rail industry. In the process, this will reduce trucking volume out of ports by 30 percent while adding new, low cost transportation solutions to serve warehouses and distribution centers. R&AN: The logistics sector is increasingly moving toward automation - autonomous trucks, robotic warehouses, AI-driven routing, and now autonomous rail. How do you see these technologies fitting together over the next decade? MS: Over the next decade, these technologies will converge into a highly synchronized, autonomous "conveyor belt" ecosystem where data and physical goods flow continuously with minimal human friction. Instead of operating in isolated silos, AI routing engines will manage the networks, robotic warehouses as the "nodes", and autonomous trucks and rail as the coordinated "muscles". This integrated network will transform supply chains. Instead of reacting to orders after they are placed, AI routing software will serve as the system architect. Ultimately, this multi-layered network transitions the entire logistics sector from a "push" system (where goods are moved in large batches and sit in storage) to a "pull" system (where individual items glide continuously through the network in a steady stream). This structural shift drastically reduces cycle times, minimizes warehouse footprint requirements, and reduces capital tied up in sitting inventory. R&AN: Parallel's vehicles use cameras, lidar, advanced braking systems, and continuous sensing technology. What have been the biggest technical or regulatory challenges in bringing autonomous rail systems into real-world testing with the FRA? MS: The biggest challenge for Robotics & Automation News has been designing and sourcing a performative powertrain at a competitive price point. Robotics & Automation News has taken this problem head on, leveraged the electric powertrain advantages that rail has over trucking, and have solved it with components and technologies that are commercial ready. Robotics & Automation News now have a safe, fully functioning system that is running on the tracks in Georgia. R&AN: Your background includes 13 years at SpaceX. Did working in aerospace influence the engineering culture or development philosophy at Parallel Systems? MS: SpaceX's culture of ambition and problem solving as technologists first has significantly influenced how Robotics & Automation News think about its work at Parallel. The aerospace industry has many tools to manage risk and mission success that have been influential in how the company has approached deploying a new technology safety within a regulated environment and I've brought a similar ethos to Parallel Systems. R&AN: There are ongoing concerns about labor shortages in trucking and logistics, particularly for long-distance freight transport. Do you see autonomous rail as replacing workers, or changing the kinds of jobs people do within the freight industry? MS: Parallel's technology will create more jobs in the rail industry to operate new freight services, supervise the technology remotely, and inspect and repair equipment. The freight industry faces a structural labor crisis - primarily driven by lifestyle preferences - rather than a shortage of available workers. By absorbing the grueling middle-mile journeys, autonomous rail will foster a shift in existing jobs. The long-distance trucking sector suffers from astronomical turnover rates (often exceeding 90 percent annually) because drivers spend weeks away from their families, living out of sleeper cabs. * A shift to short-haul drayage: As autonomous rail platoons move containers efficiently between ports and regional micro-terminals, the demand for local drayage drivers will spike. * Improved job satisfaction: Truck drivers will shift from long, cross-country hauls to regional, localized hub-and-spoke routes. This allows drivers to operate within a tight radius, return home to their families every night, and enjoy a vastly improved quality of life. R&AN: Looking ahead, how quickly do you think autonomous freight systems could become commercially mainstream? Are Robotics & Automation News still talking about a distant future, or are Robotics & Automation News closer than most people realize? MS: Robotics & Automation News is much closer than most people realize. Autonomous freight systems are shifting from experimental testing to commercial revenue generation right now. Parallel is scaling its Generation 3 vehicles to execute full-scale commercial operations with a backlog of over 300 ordered autonomous railcars.